President Obama went to Tucson last night and delivered a remarkable eulogy for the victims of last Saturday’s shooting. In so doing he brought the conversation about political discourse to a higher level.
It is said that the President put much of himself into his remarks, working on the final draft even as Air Force One approached Tucson. He owned this speech. As a father of two little girls it was evident that his remarks came from the heart.
The President, while speaking to a packed house of 14,000 at the University of Arizona McKale Center spoke to the country in a tone that was sometimes, somber, sometimes inspirational and sometimes uplifting. The positive energy in the arena was fluid moving from the contemplative, respectful mood of a memorial service to the joy of a pep rally.
He struck just the right cord. He was our favorite uncle with his arm around our shoulder. He was our father telling us that everything would be ok. He was our parish priest, our rabbi our comforter. He gave the citizens of Tucson, and the country a reason to mourn, to laugh and to be hopeful for the future.
Supporters have called this speech the beginning of a turning point for our nation. Others have said that once the pain and shock subside we will probably return to the same old rhetoric that has permeated our conversation for decades. Only time will tell.
One thing was certain last night. At a time when the country needed him, Barak Obama stepped up. In the face of tragedy he helped us remember all that is good in each of us and in our country.
In his closing remarks he remembered Christina Green, the nine year old whose life was so tragically ended last weekend. He recalled her recent interest in politics and how she viewed democracy and the country with the wide eyed enthusiasm that only a child could have.
“I want our democracy to be as Christina imagined it,” Obama said. “I want America to be as Christina imagined it.”
Amen!
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